Perennial politicking hampering progress
What you need to know:
- The perennial election campaign mode can be counterproductive as the emphasis is on competition at the expense of cooperation.
- It is interesting to note that President Ruto and Mr Raila Odinga are now warning fellow Kenyans against premature election campaigns.
A first-time visitor to Kenya would easily assume that elections are just around the corner upon observing the robust exchanges between the politicians. This perennial election campaign mode can be counterproductive as the emphasis is on competition at the expense of cooperation.
The next General Election will be held in 2027, but political coalitions are already being cooked. Even when leaders say they want to focus on the country’s immediate problems, such as the high cost of living, and for the people’s well-being, the motivation is clear—the eyes of those forging alliances are on the elections. The next round of election campaigns often starts soon after the victors are sworn in. Their opponents are not clean either, as they begin criticising the winners as they prepare to run again.
Endless political campaigning
It is interesting to note that President William Ruto and his erstwhile opponent-turned-key ally, ODM leader Raila Odinga, are now warning fellow Kenyans against premature election campaigns. The two spoke as the country was engulfed in protests to mark the first anniversary of the killing by police of 60 people during last June’s anti-tax riots, calling for peace. Nearly 10 people died and many others were injured in the countrywide mayhem on Wednesday.
Ironically, President Ruto criticised the leaders positioning themselves for the 2027 contest against him. His broad-based government agenda with Mr Odinga is, of course, about politics. However, Mr Odinga is quite right that there is a need to end the “chronic culture of endless political campaigning.”
All should borrow a leaf from founding President Jomo Kenyatta, who loathed excessive or unproductive politics and would only reactivate the independence party, Kanu, for elections and downplay its role afterwards. There is no need to engage in politics daily and divide the people instead of bringing them together and boost national development.